This week, in the 1920s, Oscar Micheaux was an entrepreneur filmmaker in western Virginia. He became a world-renowned director and producer. Also, Kentucky’s poet laureate lives down the road from what has been called the country’s most lethal cryptid. Attempts to spot it have led to deaths. And, we talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby, who’s passing on generations of kitchen wisdom to his niece.
Following the American Civil War, a group of freed people fled violence and bought land in Western North Carolina. In the summer of 1873, these people formed a Black communal society they named “The Kingdom of the Happy Land.” A new novel tells a story set in the kingdom, both in the past and in the present day. It’s titled, Happy Land.
Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez.
Artists Collaborate On “The Mockingbird”
R.B. Morris playing guitar and singing at the Big Ears Festival.
Photo by Bill Foster
Knoxville, Tennessee’s Big Ears Festival has become a high-profile platform for regional artists to debut new works. This year’s festival featured the premiere of “The Mockingbird” — a collaboration between composer William Wright and Tennessee writer, musician and playwright R.B. Morris. “The Mockingbird” features Morris reading his poetry while accompanied by an experimental chamber orchestra.
Morris was Knoxville’s first ever poet laureate, and his songs have been recorded by John Prine and Marianne Faithfull.
Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Morris about his collaborations and his ability to capture a sense of place.
The West Virginian Egg Church
Church volunteer Pat George puts flowers on completed eggs.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/Daily Yonder
Even though Easter has passed, you might still be able to find leftover Easter candy. What you probably won’t find are those big chocolate Easter eggs local churches sell right before the holiday.
One church in West Virginia has become known far and wide for its chocolate eggs. Zack Harold, reporting for the Rural Remix podcast, brought us this story.
Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs
A Little Bubby Child meme which features his Meemaw.
Courtesy of Little Bubby Child
Appalachian humor is often presented as a throwback. Think: old-timers sitting around telling tall tales. Lots of moonshine jokes. Thing is, there’s plenty of modern mountain humor. It’s on the internet.
Last year, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, John Inghram, John Blissard and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
On this West Virginia Week, bats play a critical role in our ecosystems and agriculture, but their numbers are declining in the face of a changing climate and disease.
This week, in the 1920s, Oscar Micheaux was an entrepreneur filmmaker in western Virginia. He became a world-renowned director and producer. Also, Kentucky’s poet laureate lives down the road from what has been called the country’s most lethal cryptid. Attempts to spot it have led to deaths. And, we talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby, who’s passing on generations of kitchen wisdom to his niece.
Standing 230 feet tall on the State Capitol Complex, the America250 Wheel features 45 gondolas - one honoring each American president - and offers riders panoramic views stretching up to 14 miles across Charleston.
This week, Inside Appalachia discusses the influence and contributions of Oscar Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s. Mason Adams speaks with Roanoke historian Jordan Bell about Micheaux's life and career.
